Why should there be a debate about the meaning of Islam?!!!
According to Prof. Jane Smith, the word "Islam" in Arabic had a meaning before the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The meaning of the noun "islam" means submission, and the essence of all God's religions is to submit to Him. Therefore, Prof. Smith differentiates between two meanings of the word: islam (with a small "i"), which is submission to God, is essentially shared by all religions revealed by God, and Islam (with a capital "I") refers to the specific message of the final Prophet, Muhammad peace be upon him.
I think that it goes without saying that Islam, i.e. the integral message of the final messenger of God, Muhammad peace be upon him, has submission to God at its core. It is also incontestable that all messengers of God as well as the followers of those messengers, were muslims (with a small m).
It is not sure to me what purpose can be served by trying to judge contemporary Jews and Christians (notice the genralization) as falling under the term "islam" or not. It can be even argued that some contemporary "Muslims" do not even qualify as muslims! Judging people is not at all a Muslim's concern. I think that a Muslim, when dealing with others, should focus on conveying the message of God contained in Quran and the Sunnah of the prophet, and on calling others to the way of God with wisdom and good advice. Whoever is guided is better for himself, and however is misguided is bad for himslef. We shall not by any means carry others' misdeeds; only ours.
However, there is a reluctance among many Muslims to accept a clear differentiation between Islam and islam. The reason can be the fear that the meaning of "Islam" might gets diluted by such differentiation between the essence of the message and the consequences of that essence. I think that one way out of this problem is to submit ourselves to God and follow the example of the Prophet (salla Allahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and the way he was instucted by Allah to deal with Jews and Christians. The following amazing Ayah summarizes the features of the dialogue Muslims are supposed to have with the people of the book:
{Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than God." If then they turn back, say: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to God's Will)} Aal-'imran (3-64)
I think that sharing a common ground should not be a step towards compromizing the unique features of Islam, but rather a step towards a better understanding of Islam by starting from the beginning. If submission to the One and Only God is achieved, nothing bad can follow. At least unnecessary and unjustified animosity can be avoided. And through sharing the knowledge God Almighty has made available to Muslims through His final messenger Muhammad peace be upon him, the area of shared ground can hopefully grow larger and larger.
And God knows best.
i highly appreciate the valuable research and speech given by Professor Smith about the I/i and I'd like to contribute to this topic for the sake of knowledge and the true faith.
There are no capital (I) and small (i) in (Islam word).
Let us make it clear. I = i and i = I in this area, submission to Allah is Islam and islam is submission to allah. This is so apparent when the quaranic verses talks about the life and stories of Ibrahim PBUH. Allah Swbhanh Wa'talla said to him in the holy Quran "aslim", "aslim" has two meanings: 1- to submit to his lord or/and 2- to be muslim
Because the first priority in the methodologies of the translation of the meanings of the holy Quran is by the holy Quran itself, I am quating one verse from the holy quran to bring clarity to this topic.
Allah SW describes the faith of Ibrahim PBUH that he never be a Jewish nor christian, but " Hanifan Musliman". As it is very clear in this ayah that Hanafan musliman is not Jewish nor christian, so what do you think it is?
That means to submit to ALLAH is to be Muslim.
Quoting words and ayat from the holy quaran is always strong evident, but at the same time is so critical sometime. However, the research concerning the quaranic words and meanings always in encourage able by the holy book itself.
The transilation of the word (islam) in the holy QUARAN never to be limited to the meaning of submission_ without given instructions of that submission_ as Prof. Smith mentioned yesterday. The word ISLAM/islam/Islam/or iSLAM has many meanings in the holy Quaran, submission to people/gods is one of them. In fact the word taslim is the exact transilation to submission as someone of the attendees indicated yesterday. You should update this peice of information to what you posted in the MSA site for the sake of truth.
I beilve that protecting the authetic meaning of Islam and its relation to the shariah of MOHAMMAD (instructions for that submissions) is very important. Islam mentioned 150 times in the holy QUARAN, 76 times of them refer to islam/muslim/to be muslim including the holy ayah that Prof. Smith cited in her speech (see below for Quaranic research from my readings to the holy Book).
Defending the real meaning of islam in the holy QUARAN will protect you from submitting your faith to unknown god/gods
The following is my research about the capital (I) and small (i) in the translation of the meanings of the holy quaran which you referred to it in your speech.
The word Islam/islam with its arabic root (S-L-M) were mentioned in the holy Quaran 150 times in 5 different meanings:
- 2 times for sulam which means stairway to heaven (i.e., 52:38)
- 5 times for taslim which means submission (i.e., 4:65)
- 15 times for sulaiman (solomon) (i.e., 27:30)
- 53 times for salam which means peace (i.e., 59:23) &
- 75 for islam which means to believe in that which is sent down to Muhammad (i.e., 3:84-85-86, 61: 6-7).
There are a lot of research in the area of the holy words of the holy Quaran and their meanings needed for better understanding of the stairways to the heaven